That's What You Get

Chapter Eight: The Knock at the Door

Donna led Mikey back inside, sitting him on the couch, "Should I call the station? Ask Dani?"

"She already texted," he murmured, eyes still glued to the black screen of the TV. "She knew. And she didn't tell me."

Donna paused, her hand never leaving his back. "I'm sure she had her reasons. Maybe she was trying to protect you."

"But I had a right to know," he choked. "How can I be safe if I don't know what's coming?"

"Come home for a while. Your brother's nearby. We can stay together," she said, brushing a strand of hair from his forehead.

"No... if I move, he'll find me. He always does."

"You're not alone anymore, Mikey. I'm here. I won't let him take you again. Not now."

A voice on the TV echoed again, sharp and final.

"Yes, I repeat, Pete Wentz, has been released from prison. The man was arrested four years ago for six-years worth of domestic abuse.. The parole board deemed him no longer a threat. He was released yesterday."

Mikey's stomach twisted.

"The police must have had a good reason," Donna said carefully, watching his face. "You're still under protection, right?"

"No... They thought I wouldn't need it anymore," he whispered. "Aidan, she's my lawyer... She said there's a fifty-fifty chance Pete finds me. He's smart. Calculated. He'll be looking. I know him."

Donna's face hardened. "Then we prepare for both outcomes. You're not defenseless anymore, sweetheart."

A knock at the door cut through the air like a gunshot.

Mikey flinched. His breath caught.

"I'll get it," Donna said quickly, standing. She kissed his head and walked to the door, looking through the peephole.

"Hi... um, is Mikey here?" a familiar voice asked from the other side.

Donna opened it slowly. "You must be Dani."

"I am," Dani said, nerves flickering across her features. "Can I talk to him?"

Donna stepped aside but didn't leave. She kept close, arms crossed, her eyes sharp.

Dani walked to the couch and stood in front of Mikey. "I'm so sorry," she said, voice shaking. "I wasn't allowed to tell you. My captain made that call."

"You knew," Mikey said, voice cracking. "You knew and you didn't say a damn thing."

"I was trying to protect you-"

"By lying?" Donna cut in. "That man tortured my son. And your job was to keep him safe."

"You weren't around for the worst of it," Dani snapped. "I was. I was the one helping him through the nightmares, making sure he had somewhere safe to be. You just showed up."

"I've spent fourteen years trying to find him," Donna said, eyes narrowed. "I left the church. I lost my community. I changed everything after he disappeared. But no one would tell me where he was."

"You didn't support him when he needed you most." Dani argued.

"And your captain didn't let me fix that."

"Stop," Mikey said suddenly. "Just stop."

Both women fell silent.

"Dani... go home," he said, voice flat. "I don't care anymore."

She opened her mouth to protest, then nodded. "Okay." Her eyes lingered on him before she turned and left.

Donna sat beside him again, her hand trembling slightly as she reached for his. "Where did I go wrong?"